Nathan Stewart-Jarrett is no stranger to transformative roles, but his portrayal in CULPRITS takes his craft to new heights. The thrilling UK launch on ITVX has opened the series to a fresh audience, showcasing the collision of action-packed storytelling and deep emotional resonance. In this exclusive interview, Nathan delves into what drew him to the project, how the storyline mirrors universal themes of family and protection, and the lessons he’s learned during a career-defining year that includes Femme and Black Doves.
SD – CULPRITS finally getting a proper UK launch on ITVX after flying under the radar last year, how do you feel about the show getting a new, fresh audience in the UK?
NS-J – I am overjoyed. I have to say, I think we did have a proper launch last year, we got little mixed up with strikes and things as there was so much happening last year. Sometimes a show has that moment and then it finds its audience and its way. So, I’m really overjoyed for getting a second chance. ITVX is such a great platform for the country, everybody watches it; everyone has got it. So, I am excited.
SD – The premise of CULPRITS is thrilling with the crew of elite of criminals hunted by an assassin. What drew you to the project? And what intrigued you the most about your character?
NS-J – I mean the character was what drew me to the project. I almost had two to three characters to play, and I have never done that before. So, I was like, this is incredible not to mention it is a thriller and action film. I never got to be running around like Tom Cruise with guns and explosions, usually I am like sitting around talking, but this time I get a bit of the action. But there is something about the way Jake Blakeson has framed the storytelling, it tells a story both forward and backwards at the same time, which I think is a really an amazing kind of conceit for television. So, it was overall, it was it was attractive part to play.
SD – The storyline of CULPRITS involves the collision of past and present lives. Did you find any personal resonance with this theme, or was there a particular aspect of your character’s journey that felt especially meaningful to you?
NS-J – I am very much a look to the future person. But Joe David has a part of that as well because he is really trying to protect his present and his future. What I loved about the story, and I think you see it every now and then, it’s about family, he’s trying to protect his family, that’s the tragedy, this person has this very normal family and It’s almost like the world doesn’t think he deserved that, which I think is quite an interesting thing. They are an engaged gay couple; he has two step kids, a normal thing that many people take for granted. So, I liked that it he was anchored somewhere. So, to protect his present he was forced to look back.
SD – You’ve had a huge year from your BIFA win for Femme to your casting Black Doves. How has this busy period of your career shaped your approach to acting and are there any lessons you have learned that you can share?
NS-J – Weirdly, I think. CULPRITS really did teach me something. I have never had that sense of responsibility before. It is every scene, every day, and truly being able to shape someone’s journey, there is a fluidity that comes with it. I think in the last year, maybe since CULPRITS, I wanted to have less tension approaching work. Like you are still nervous and nerves are good, but I wanted to relax more and honestly, the lesson is to be more forgiving of myself. Like CULPRITS I had good days and bad days, filming lasted eight months, but if my good days outbalanced my bad, there is like, a forgiveness that I have learned in the last couple of years.
SD – CULPRITS has a high-stakes heist narrative but also delves into the psychology of each character. How did you prepare to explore both feeling action sequences and the deeper emotional layers of your character?
NS-J –I just dug in! No seriously, Jay Blakeson just writes beautifully, and he writes long scenes. When someone writes very beautifully the work gets surprisingly easier. I thought about stuff that I could relate to in terms of what I was doing in my body, the body stuff was interesting because I had to transform. He wrote an 11-page scene which you know, as an actor in, TV or film its long and I remember pinning on my wall and just go through it daily because I wanted everything to be embodied. And then we got these action days, and I love them because there is no dialogue and that created a good balance in the show.
SD – The cast of CULPRITS features a diverse group of characters all dealing with their own challenges. What was it working with such a dynamic assemble? And did any moments during filming stands out to you?
NS-J – I had a few, like the cast was fantastic, these amazing people just cropping up all over the place coming in and out. The industry has changed and I leading a Disney series is evident of that-change.
We filmed a bit in Canada and on the first shoot day we flew to England, and it really sweltering day, but I remember the director, Claire Oakley was there. And then she was talking to the producer, who was a woman, and then they were talking to the OP, who was a woman, the first assistant director was a woman. And I sat there, on this chair in this office I was like, wow the industry has changed, So, it was amazing to see the show’s change both reflected in front and behind the camera.
That was an exciting moment, and I am glad I noticed it. You know, filming is so difficult in the sense of everything happening at the same time, you don’t notice things. I was glad that I took stock of that moment there was a lot of diversity, they worked hard at show, and they are good.
SD – With your recent work in Femme, Black Doves and now CULPRITS, you have been part of a diverse storytelling. What kind of roles or stories are you most drawn to at this point in your career?
NS-J – I have been incredibly lucky to have been given the opportunity to show my range. I kind of hopped around quite a bit but one thing I have not done, I feel like, Femme came close, but it did not: Like I have never been like the bad guy; you see all these great actors have these great moments and they’re like there being evil with their eyeliner and their little shade of that thing. And I want all of that, you know, like Bon, I would like to explore a darker character in that sense, I certainly I feel like I am doing something a-little darker now, so maybe after that. I think as an actor or any kind of artist you want to explore the things that are unexplored within yourself and within your psyche, whatever. So, I think it is that’s time.
SD – This is a personal question of mine, that I like to ask my talents when I speak to them. From all the characters you have played so far, if you were to go for a drink with one of them, who would that be?
NS-J – That’s really hard. Ohh my gosh, that is really hard. I mean the character I did in Four Weddings was Tony, he was kind of fun. He was sharp. I liked that series. I think he would get a bit loose. So, I feel like maybe I would choose him, but there are a couple more… That is like the best question ever!! I am going to choose him, there we go. That is the answer. I am stumped. I am absolutely stumped! But let’s just say Tony from 24 weddings. Watch me email you…
